“The time change is more than turning the clock back,” says Dr. Sam Fleishman, a board-certified sleep physician who serves as AASM president. “It’s a once a year opportunity to reset your body clock for an extra hour of sleep every night.”

The AASM’s new website –
www.sleepeducation.com
– explains how to use this opportunity to reset your body clock and find help for many sleep disorders.

It’s common knowledge, says Fleishman, that you can get an extra hour of sleep on the night we turn the clocks back. You can make this change permanent by maintaining the earlier bedtime on a nightly basis.

“Adding an hour to your nightly sleep this way is the best opportunity to make sleep a priority in your life,” he says.

Self-discipline isn’t the only challenge to getting a good, healthy night’s sleep. The AASM reports there is an epidemic of sleep illness across the country.
As many as 70 million people experience sleep problems ranging from occasional insomnia to life threatening illnesses like sleep apnea or narcolepsy, according to the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. “Seeing a board-certified sleep physician is critical to getting the help you need,” says Fleishman.

“Whether you’re just trying to get another hour of sleep, or you’re ready to get a doctor’s help for a serious sleep illness,” says Fleishman, “this is an opportunity to reduce daytime sleepiness and improve your quality of life.”

The AASM's public website –
www.sleepeducation.com
has resources for people who want to improve the quality of their lives by sleeping better. The site includes a searchable listing of board-certified sleep physicians and accredited sleep centers capable of diagnosing and managing sleep disorders. Also featured are tips to manage your sleep in advance of the time change and brief resource videos that provide patient-friendly information.

About Us

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a professional membership society that is the leader in setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine health care, education and research (www.aasmnet.org)The AASM considers sleep disorders an illness that has reached epidemic proportions. Board certified sleep medicine physicians in an AASM accredited sleep center can provide effective treatment. AASM encourages patients to talk to their doctors about sleep problems or visit www.sleepeducation.com for a searchable directory of sleep centers.